The term "council state" can refer to a type of government system in which power is shared by a group of individuals or representatives. Some synonyms for council state that convey a similar meaning include "participatory democracy," "communalism," and "collective decision-making." Other terms that may be used interchangeably include "council democracy," "consensus democracy," and "cooperative governance." These synonyms all suggest a form of government that values community involvement and collaboration, and in which decisions are made through consensus and dialogue. Overall, these different terms highlight the diverse ways in which power can be shared and distributed within a political system.